Sauna in the Summer

Sauna in summer? (yes, really!)

You made it through the heatwave, congrats. Now seems the perfect time to ask: why keep saunaing through the summer?

Short answer: because your body needs it.

1. Train your body to handle heat 

Your body’s internal cooling system, known as thermoregulation, is like a muscle: use it or lose it.

In the past, humans were regularly exposed to fluctuating climates. We sweated in the summer sun, shivered in rivers and moved through changing seasons without central heating or air con. But now, we rarely give our thermoregulation system a chance to flex.

Regular sauna use trains this system to work better. Your body:

• Learns to sweat more efficiently

• Lowers its core temperature faster

• Handles hot days with less stress

2. The cold plunge hits differently in summer 

That hot → cold → rest cycle helps your body shift into parasympathetic "rest and digest" mode. In winter, we rush from the cold back into warmth. In summer? You take your time and soak up all that tingly goodness! 

3. You’ve got a summer spa in London 

No one’s getting a slot at Hampstead ponds. Come hang out with us instead.

Grab a cup of Omar’s ginger, tamarind and cinnamon tea (drinking hot drinks in warm weather can help the body regulate its temperature more effectively), and lounge about. Pet the cats, rest. 

4. Midsommar 

We only need to look to the Finns to see how it’s done - sauna isn’t just for winter, it’s a way of life. Take Midsommar (Juhannus), Finland’s celebration of the summer solstice - the longest day of the year. Inka, our resident Finnish sauna host, describes how her family gathers at their lakeside house in Kuopio to fire up the traditional smoke sauna, which takes half a day to warm. Songs are sung, beer and sausages are shared and her 102-year-old grandmother is her happiest! 

5. Tips for summer sauna 

• Hydrate well: drink lots of water, and electrolytes never go amiss!

• Keep rounds shorter: 10-15 minutes is plenty

• Cool down properly: lay outside in the garden, breathe, let your body settle
  

Avoid the midday heat: mornings or evenings work best